The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-10-06
A JAPANESE LOVE STORY.

ters O-Suba aud Niya lived with a wild
owed aunt. Their father had fallen in
battle, and his wife soon followed him to
the grave, committing her children to the
care OF their only remaining relative.
O'>uba, the elder, was a brunette, with
sparkling black eyes and white teeth that
shone between full, ruddy lips. She was
taller than Niya, who was fair and slight,
with mild blue eyes and soft voice.
For over year OSuba had been be.
trothed to kampei, the son of neighbor-
ing farmer. Their parents had arranged
the matter. Though it was not made
formal by an exchange Of presents, the
young people regarded it as settled; aud
the marriage was deferred only until
hamper returned from campaign against
rebel prince, in which he was to follow
his lord, his father being too old to take
the field.
When the young man called on the sis
ters in order to say adieu, he was morti.
fed by o Suba's manner, which seemed
to show that she regarded his absence as
a reprieve; and his face betrayed his feel
ings.
Do not look thus, good Kampei, be-
fore your commander - she said laugh
ingly. He will think you a coward
Go and win booty and come back covered
with glory. Who would not be soldier
rather than a mean farmer ?" she cried
with animation. "A warrior is a gentle
man, has his pocket full of bright silver
and is esteemed by his lord. Go, Kam-
pei; shall despise you if you hesitate p
kampei was stung by her tones and
rose hastily. a deep sigh reached him,
aud on. turning around he saw Niya sit
ting in a corner of the room, her face bur-
led in the loose sleeve of her robe.
Farewell, Niya," he said.
y sob rose in the girls throat as she
replied, Farewell, kampei. And rp-
member" she taltered, "Ihat if anything
occurs to you, I've shall be broken
hearted"
6 ou will not forget me, O-Suba? 1t
will cheer me to know that"
=" | shall not forget you," she said i'm
patiently; and the young man left, catch
ing g lance as he closed the garden gate
of O-Suba waving a gay adieu. and of
Niya with her face hidden in her hands.
One day, few months after Kampei's
departure, his mother called at the cot.
tage, and alter relating pitiful tale of
bad harvests, poverty and debt said that
her husband, who was in feeble health,
would be sent to prison if she could not
obtain eighty riyos, and she begged
O-Suba, as her sons betrothed, to at least
lend that sum to her. O-Suba treated
the poor woman harshly, refused the
money and reminded her visitor that as
presents are not yet exchanged their mar
riage must not be regarded as certain.
Niya in vain urged her aunt to apply a
portion of her little fortune to the farm
er's relief. Her relatives were obdurate,
and the old woman was going away
sadly, when the younger girl sprang up,
thrust her feet into het sandals anu hur-
RED after the visitor, overtaking her be-
fore she reached the gate.
"When must you have the money 2"
she asked
"Within three days, Niya"
" You shall have it, said the girl and
escaping from the thanks and blessings of
the old woman she returned to the house.
She threw herself on the mat in corner,
clasped her hands and puckered her brow
thoughtfully.
Suddenly she uttered a joyous cry.
The screens were drawn back, leaving the
whole front of the house open and Niya
saw a pair of swallows fly into the room
and perch on the space between the wall
and the ceiling, chirping and chattering
together busily.
"See, sister, the pretty birds are going
to build good fortune will be ours. Sh-
h-h! Dear O-Suba, do not disturb
them - and she laid her hand imploringly
on her sisters arm as O-Suba laughed at
her enthusiasm.
Niya sat there eagerly watching the
movements of the birds and their many
flights to and fro while building their
nest.
Her relatives went out soon after and
Niya after long look at the still busy
swallows, dressed herself and went out,
too. When O.Suba and her aunt re-
turned Niva was not at home and it was
long before they saw her face.
When the army to which Kampei be-
longed was disbanded his comrades gave
themselves up to reveIry, while he, eager
to see O-Suba and anxious to see about
his parents, of whose troubles he had
heard. fastened homeward.
He was within short days journey of
his native village, when toward sunset he
reached tea house bearing on one Of the
posts the sign "Chaya Of the Verdant
Cherry Blossom" The screens forming
the front were thrown back, showing the
whole inside of the house, divided into
apartments by movable partitions and in
one of the rooms number of gentlemen
retaners sat drinking, their songs
reaching the passers by mingled with the
noise of their quarrels.
AS kampei cast away outside the ve-
randa his dusty sandals some of the fe-
male attendants ran out to meet him with
cries of welcome.
"Good afternoon, sir I" Be good
enough to walk inside and rest, sir The
sun is hot, the roads are parehed and you
must be weary. We have liquor Of Ten
sui and Satsuma tobocco and fragrant
tea"
With many bows they led him into an
unoceupied room, and when food and
drink were placed before HIM he was left
alone. He was soon waited on by an
other girl, who came to inquire if he
wanted anything more, and Kampei was
astounded to recognize IN the new conner
Niya-but not the Niya in quiet attire,
with downcast looks, whom he left behind
at Morioka. She had gay clothes; her
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